There will be Sacred Dharmapala Dances in the puja, including the White and Blue Dharmapala Dances (TAQING) , the Queen of Destroyer Dance (KUNTHUB GYELMO) and dakini dance. The Sacred Dharmapala Dance is absolutely not Tibetan folk or cultural dance. It is a Tibetan traditional religious dance and mostly, it is performed in the monastery.
Every evening before the puja commence, Rinpoche and the lamas will consecrate themselves as the deities (Vajra Kilaya) of the puja. When they don the special robes / ornaments, they are no longer ordinary lamas but the deity's wisdom body. the Vajra Master will dress as the deity of the puja, bestowing wrathful blessings to all puja participants. This powerful blessing will remove all outer and inner negative karma and illnesses. Rinpoche, the Tantra Master, dressed as the deity (Vajra Kilaya) of the puja will absorbed all the negative karma of the puja participants and transferred them to the "figure" inside the triangle box (significance of the demon) placed in front of him. With the "Kila wisdom weapon" (dagger), Vajra Kilaya will destroy the demons. After the purification, Rinpoche will use the Phurba to touch on the heads of the puja participants to remove all obstacles from their body, speech and mind.
It is a powerful spiritual practice where the Vajra Master and the lamas are in a profound meditative state. Every dance step is done with mantra, and specially accompanied by sacred music. Every hand movement is to remove the negative karma of the body, speech and mind with the power and wisdom of the deity Vajra Kilaya. In this manner, they purify the environment and dispense blessing. The viewer must have a proper understanding with great trust and faith.
The Vajra Kilaya Dharmapala Dance is called "The Liberation of Sight". Meaning that, by seeing the dance form, one purifies the negative karma of body, by hearing the sacred sounds (music), one purifies the negative karma of speech, and when one supplicates with faith, one purifies the negative karma of mind. All these will help to heal sicknesses, pacify obstacles and other problems pertaining to all our activities. People facing mental turmoil will find it helpful as they will feel calm and peaceful.
In this Vajra Kilaya Puja, there are three different kinds of dharmapala dances :
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